10 DECEMBER 2016

Lopez Decisions Arnaoutis

By Reginald Murrell at ringside from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio California:

In the main event Josesito Lopez 31-6 (18 KO’s), Riverside California came out strong in the first round trying establish control of this 10 round welterweight fight. He used his jab effectively, coming in behind his jab and racking Mike Arnaoutis 24-10-1 (11 KO’s), Queens New York body when he trapped him on the ropes. Arnaoutis appeared a little confused by the aggression and speed Lopez demonstrated early in the fight. Before the bell rang ending the third round, Arnaoutis dropped Lopez with a still jab that shocked the partisan fans of Lopez. After surviving the flash knock down, Lopez answered the bell to start the fourth round like he did the first round, coming forward pumping his jab. After the unexpected knock down of Lopez in the previous round, Arnaoutis begin to loosen up and throw more punches this round.

Lopez finds success when he backs Arnaoutis up into the ropes, throwing his power shots to the head and body of Arnaoutis. In the middle rounds Arnaoutis began to find his rhythm and his jab finds a home along with some lead left hands. Lopez is the busier of the two, but Arnaoutis punches seem to have a more telling affect on Lopez. He seemed a little wobbly in the sixth from a Arnaoutis straight left. In the seventh each fighter had a moment of give and take with Lopez getting the best of the exchange. In the eighth round Arnaoutis got cut over his left eye that made his face a bloody mess. Due to the cut, the fight was stopped which sent the decision to the judges score cards.

In the co-main event, for the NABF and WBC Intercontinental Junior Lightweight title fight, Jerry Belmontes 18-3 (5KO’s) from Corpus Christi Texas was content to let Francisco Vargas 18-0-1 (14 KO’s) Mexico City Mexico take the title with little opposition. Belmontes stood in the pocket with his hands lowered allowing Vargas to land 6 or 7 punches without punching back. The stronger, more determined Vargas was all to happy hit his foe without concerning himself with any punches coming back at him. If Belmontes fight plan was to get hit and not hit back, then he executed that plan to perfection. When Belmontes did return fire, his punches didn’t have enough them to persuade Vargas to back up. As the fight wore on, it was obvious Belmontes didn’t have a plan to fight the swarming Vargas. Vargas won every round on the judges score cards, 100-90.

Vargas Unanimous Decision over 10 rounds

In other results;

Jermall Charlo 17-0 (12 KO’s) Houston Texas showed patience, pose and accurate punching in dispatching Joseph De Los Santos Nagua Dominican Republic 16-13-3 (9 KO’s) in 5 rounds. Charlo dropped De Los Santos twice with the last coming in the fifth round of a scheduled eight round Middleweight fight. In the fifth round Charlo caught De Los Santos with a big right hand as De Los Santos was backing up. The referee had seen enough to know that De Los Santos was done for the night.

Charlo by TKO in the fifth

Joseph Diaz Jr. 9-1 (6 KO’s) South El Monte California, scored a 7 round TKO over tough Carlos Rodriguez 21-12-3 (9 KO’s) Los Mochis Mexico. The 2012 Olympian had a very tough opponent in Rodriguez. Diaz Jr. was clearly the better boxer, but the limited Rodriguez lacked in skills, he made up for it in heart.

Diaz Jr. TKO in the seventh

Another 2012 Olympian Errol Spence Jr. 10-0 (8 KO’s) made quick work of Gerardo Cuevas 16-11 (14 KO’s) Chihuahua Mexico. Spence Jr. battered Cuevas around the ring for the 3 minutes the fight lasted. Cuevas didn’t come out to answer the bell in for the second round.

Spence Jr. TKO round 1

Diego De La Hoya 2-0 (2 KO’s) Mexicali Mexico won by TKO at 2:33 of the first round. His opponent Abraham Rubio 3-3-1 (1 KO) was in the fight from the opening bell till the stoppage by the referee before the first round ended.

De La Hoya TKO in the first

In the most entertaining fight of the night Angel Osuna 11-4-1 (7 KO’s) Coachella California fought an aggressive fight for nine rounds in a 10 round fight against Hugo Centeno Jr. 20-0 (11 KO’s) Oxnard California. For nine rounds Osuna had Centeno in trouble, catching the more polished fighter with a wicked right to the temple. For nine rounds Osuna was having his way with Centeno, unfortunately Osuna it was a 10 round fight. In the tenth Centeno knew Osuna was tired and came out fast and hard. He caught Osuna along the ropes, Centeno caught Osuna with a vivious uppercut that marked the beginning of the end. Applying more pressure, Centeno landed a big right hand knocking Osuna through the ropes, where he would remained at the end of the referees count. After being helped back to his corner by the referee, Osuna had to be taken out of the ring on a stretcher. Our prayers go out to him.